Code Bharat Program for App Developers
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), under its CodeBharat program, is inviting applications from individual App developers who are passionate about working on real-world bottom-of-pyramid problems and implementing cutting-edge solutions.

This is an exciting opportunity for developers to conceptualize, visualize, design and develop solutions that improve the quality of life for underprivileged communities in rural areas. Through this program, DEF aims to nurture innovators who are inspired to solve social problems and are passionately self-driven to lead a project from ideation and conceptualization to design and development, taking responsibility for end-to-end execution of ideas.

This program shall provide the necessary resources and infrastructure to help app developers translate their skills and passion into real-world working solutions for social development and impact purposes. DEF shall engage and nurture app developers in different solution categories based on their interests, skills and strengths.

Here is an illustrative list of categories:

Apps for Education: There are about 1.4 million schools in India employing about 7 million teachers. Areas of designing mobile solutions could be around improving access to education and enhancing quality of education; increasing attendance at schools; ensuring availability of infrastructure, 100% delivery of education; etc.

Apps for Panchayats: With 265,000 Panchayats in the country and 3 million Panchayat elected members across India, we need tools for Panchayats to manage their resources; engage their communities; achieve better governance; provide services to citizens; etc.

Tools & Utility Apps: Apps that can ease the process of benchmarking, community mapping, data management, surveys and research. This may also include solutions in areas like identity verification, Aadhar, BPL cards, Ration Cards, Voter Cards, government entitlements and others.

Infrastructure Apps: Apps that help manage large-scale project implementations, monitor government schemes and track local issues, campaigns and elections. Also, tools related to banking, microfinance and complaint mechanisms for local issues like water, transport, crime, etc.

Health Apps: Considering there are about 2 million frontline health workers in India, the entire ecosystems around them needs information dissemination, training and capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, and engage with communities to deliver better health services.

Tenure of CodeBharat Program: 6 – 12 months based on needs of the specific project and availability of the candidate.

Benefits to Developers: A monthly remuneration, incubation support including infrastructure and mentoring support. Developers who complete the full tenure of the program, shall have the opportunity to be co-founders of any entity that may be founded as a result of a successful implementation.

Eligibility Criteria: The applicant should herself / himself be the programmer, coder, visualizer & have very strong sense of understanding of the concerned subjects.

How to Apply: Email your CV with portfolio links to amar@defindia.org mentioning your name, current location and years of experience in app development in SUBJECT of the email with a short note as to why CodeBharat interests you and how you can contribute.

Thanks to all the amazing entrepreneurs who made sure the event was a rocking success!

PeerStrat May 17 2014 Delhi

It was all about rich, in-depth and frank sharing of business challenges, opportunities, solutions and collaboration! A unique engaging rigorous Business Strategy Workout with cross-fertilization of ideas…

Interesting new groups keep popping up in Delhi – the freshest is Peerstrat initiated by Omnizient Labs. This group is designed for entrepreneurs and SMEs. Participants review each other’s businesses and explore ways to grow faster and be the best in your industry. Lively insightful interaction!

PEERSTRAT is a first of its kind event, where entrepreneurs, business professionals, corporate executives take the prime speaking slot instead of monotonous star speakers or a high-power panel. This unique event – a high energy Peer Strategy Review workout (PEERSTRAT) session is being conducted by Omnizient Labs.

SME Joinup Member Special Offers:

There is a special offer for SME Joinup members. All SME Joinup members can avail of a 25% discount on the fees of attending the event. To avail of this offer, use the Promo Code SMEVIDYA on PeerStrat Event on Sat, May 17, 2014 at New Delhi. To use promo code, click on the link “Have Discount Code?” at http://www.meraevents.com/event/peerstrat. For more information fill the form below.

Why should you attend:

All participants are invited to share the challenges and opportunities they are facing in their business as per the following Five Step PEERSTRAT Agenda:

Plus a Networking session, which will not be just merely exchanging card, but actually people seeking reference from a particular company or seeking some business opportunity or looking for a supplier or any type of business, platform will enable that.

Cost:

Contact SME Joinup

SME Joinup Partner: Omnizient Labs

Omnizient Labs is a pioneering Training, Coaching & Consulting organization which specializes in creating a holistic 360 Degree view for individuals and groups and helping them take quick decisions and actions to maximize benefits in a short time.
Omnizient is impacting people in various communities and workplaces across the globe including regions like North America, Europe, Far East and South East Asia.

While you are helping India decide its future by casting your Vote…
It’s time also to choose a career for yourself…
Which is exciting, rewarding, performance oriented and limitless….. “ENTREPRENEURSHIP”.

Registrations are invited from students, school or college dropouts, working executives, start-ups or anyone with a dream to become an entrepreneur !

WHO CAN JOIN:

Anyone with dream to become an entrepreneur, students of Management, College students, working executives, start-ups…. anyone!

EDeP NEED & OVERVIEW:

EDeP aims to provide training and mentoring to enable young minds understand the fundamental principles of business and also the real-life practical situations for managing businesses successfully and overcoming the unforeseen, unexpected challenges!

HIGHLIGHTS:

All trainings by real-life Professionals and successful Entrepreneurs, covering all aspects of Business:

From nurturing/developing an idea.

Identifying resources,

Implementation,

Project Management,

Certification & Registrations,

Branding,

Safety,

Regulations,

Govt. Support and Subsidies,

Practical Trainings,

Project Report Writing,

Financial & Business Literacy…. more!

Grabbing opportunities,

Developing a business plan,

Arranging resources/ Bank Finance/ Equity,

Operations,

Quality,

Marketing,

HR,

Compliances,

Laws and Regulations,

Global opportunities,

Industry-visits.

SPECIAL NOTES:

Participants interested in the programme may write to Mr. Vinod K. Pandita (Programme Director) or Mrs. Suchitra Choudhary (Programme Manager) at itree@iamsmeofindia.com for clarifications, if any.
Once registration is accepted, cancellation /refund queries and requests will not be entertained.

PROGRAMME FEE:

For Students, School & College Dropouts: Rs. 30,000 + 12.36% Service Tax For Second Generation & Other Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Rs. 45,000+12.36% Service Tax (inclusive of mentoring & support for one year post course completion)

Who will benefit from this event

Participation

Participation fees are nominal INR 1000 to cover basic cost of the event. Tea and Snacks would be served during the session. Please confirm your participation by marking an email to raj @ bizvidya.com.

I was recently invited by one ‘Fitness company’ to advise them on how to cut the losses. One of the ways devised by them was to appoint franchisees so that they can have economies of scale for buying equipments and marketing expenses. Now that the company had decided to expand through franchisee route, the whole focus of the said company was to find people, though acquaintances or any other other means who would be their potential franchisees. I had no problems in this strategy, which perhaps was a good and viable option. However, I was my concern was they were missing an important piece when you are expanding your business. In my assessment, they needed to expand their bandwidth at the top and it was necessary to think about composition and functioning of the board. The kind of milestones the company intended to reach would be near to impossible to achieve without a proper board.

In India, the board is plugged mere for regulatory network, in case of private limited, the number of directors required is two and in public limited, the number should be seven. Most of the time, the board is comprised of friends or families, irrespective of their qualifications. Board doesn’t meet often, and whatever transactions it does, it mere does for regulatory considerations. In India, there is a dire need of sound board, but the importance of board is not at all valued in India, let alone talk of actual functioning of board.

The fundamental problem is that, overwhelming number of business people are ill educated about the need of Board. Management studies are bereft about the emphasis of what board potentially can deliver.

Board Room on a lighter note!

Few years back, most of the traditionally business house did underwent professional makeover but board remained untouched, somehow its importance has picked up.

Another misnomer about board is that people think only listed companies require it, whereas in my view the smaller companies need it more. It can provide direction, accountability and better guidance.

In this direction, I am glad that Omnizent labs is driving this educative as well as actually providing Directors for small companies. It will be a low cost exercise for small and medium companies.

For details about how to become a director or how to avail the services of director and make your board strong you may read this introduction page here and write to us at raj@bizvidya.com.

Author: Raju Moza has 14+ years of experience across various industries and domains like Telecom, Retail, Education, Electronic & Mobile Services, Travel & Hospitality and Manufacturing. He has been a turnaround leader with deep insights in understanding of diverse markets. He is regularly invited to speak at seminars and conferences. Besides the strong business pedigree, he is an ‘active writer’, has written some of the critically acclaimed pieces on diverse subjects namely Kashmir, Afghanistan, Political Islam, International Affairs, Political Economy and Short Stories. He recently shot a documentary as well. He is an MBA in finance and has recently done a Venture Capital development program from ISB, Hyderabad, India.